Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1887-04-22
K IN G
Solomon 5 Mines.

solomon 5 MINES.
After supper we filed our pipes and III
them, proceeding which filled Infadoos
and Scragga with establishment. The Kuku-
anas were evidently unacquanted with the
divine uses of tobacco-smoke. The herb was
grown among them extensively; but, like the
ZuIus. they only used it for smut, and quite
failed to identify it in its new form.
Presently | asked Infadoos when we were
to proceed on our journey, and WAS delighted
to learn that preparations had been made fot
us TO leave on the following morning, mes
sengers having already left 10 inform Iwaia,
the king of our coming. it appeared that
TwaIa was at his principal place, known az
Loo, making ready for the great annna!
feast which was held in the first week OF
June. At this gathering all the regiments,
with tho exception of certain attachments
left behind for garrison purposes, were
brought up and paraded before the king:
and the great annual witch-hunt, of which
more by and by, was held.
We were to start at dawn and Incidoos,
who was to accompany us. expected that We
meat and mealie cobs daintiIy served on
wooden platters and presented to us with
deep obeisances.
We ate and drank and then the beds hav-
ing by our request been all moved into one
hut, a precauton at which the amiable
young hdies smiled, we flung ourselves
down to sleep, thoroughly wearied out with
our long journey.
k., b, G,,I ,I.,4
was high in the heavens and that tie female
attendants who did not seem to be troubled
by any false shame. were already standing
inside the hut, having been ordered to at
tend and help us TO make ready"
Make ready, indeed" growled Good,
''whcn one has flannel shirt and pair Of
boots that does not take long | wish you
would ask them for my trousers"
/ asked accordingly, but was informed
that these sacred relics had already been
taken 10 the king, who would see us in the
forenoon.
Having, somewhat to their establishment
and disappointment, requested the young
ladies to step outside, we proceeded to make
the best toilet that the circumstances admit
ted or Good even went the length OF again
shaving the right side OF his fac: the left,
on which now appeared very fair crop of
WHISPERS we Impressed upOn him he must
on no account touch. As for ourselves, we
were cmItcn;cd with goG- wash and comb
ing our hair Sir llenry's yellow locks were
now almost down 10 his shoulders, and he
looked NOR liz" an ancient Dune than ever
while my grzlled scrub was fully an inch
long, instead Of half an inch, which in a
general way | considered my maximum
length.
BY the TIM that wc had eaten our break
fast, and smoked Il pipe q MESA &c was
brought Ia II, by no les a parsonage than In
fadoos himself that Twala, the king, was
ready to see us. II we would be pleased to
come.
We remarked in reply that we should pre-
fer to walt till the sun was a little higher we
were yet weary with our journey etc, etc.
1t Is always well, when dealing with unclyi-
lzed people, not to be in too great a hurry.
They are apt To mistake politenesS for awe
or servility. ~, although we were quite as
anxious to see Fwala as Twaia could be to
see us, we sat down and waited for an hour,
employing the interval in preparing such
presents as our slender stock of goods per-
mitted-namey the Winchester rifle which
had been used by poor Nentyogel, and some
beads The rifle and ammunition we deter
the beads were for his wives and courtiers.
We had already given few to Infadoos and
Scragga, and found that they were delighted
with them, never having seen anything like
,hem before. At length we declared that we
were ready and guided by lnfadoOs, started
off TO the lcycc, Umbopa carrying the rifle
and beads.
After walking Il few hundred yards we
came to an Enclosure, something like that
which surrounded the hut5 that had been al
lotted to us, only fifty times as big. 1t could
not have been less than six or seven acres in
extent All around the outside fence was n
row Of huts, which We're the habtatIons of
the Kings wives. Exactly opposite the
gateway, on the further side of the open
space, was a very large hut which stood by
Itself In which his aIesty resided. All the
rest was open ground that is TO say, it would
have been open had it not been filled by
company after company OF warriors, who
Were mustered there to the number of seven
or eight thousand. These men stood still as
statues as we advanced through them, and it
would be impossible TO give an idea of the
grandeur of the spectacle which they pre-
scented In their waving plumes, their glanc-
ing spears, and iron. backed ox-hide shields.
The space in front of the large hut was
stools. On three of these, at n sign from
intadoos, we seated ourselves, Umbopa
standing behind us. As for InfadooS, he
took up position by the door of the hut.
So we waited for ten minutes or more in the
midst OF II dead silence but conscious that
we were the object of the concentrated gaze
of some eight thousand pairs OF eyes 1t
was a somewhat trying ordeal, but we car
ried II off as best we could. At length the
door of the hut opened, and n gigantic fig
urc, with splendid tiger skin karrOss flung
over its shoulders, stepped out, followed by
the boy Scragga, and what appeared to us to
be a withered up monkey, wrapped in fur
cloak. The figure seated Itself upon u stool
Scragga took his stand behind il, and the
withcred-up monkey crept on all-tours into
the shade of the hut aud squatted down.
Still there was silence.
Then the gigantic figure slipped of the
karross aud stood up before us, Il truly
alarming spectacle. 1t was that ot an enor-
NOUS man with the most entirely repulsiye
countcnance we had ever bcheld. The lips
were us thick rs a ncgroS, the nose was Hat
1t had but one cleaning black eye ttor the
other was represented by hollow in the
facet, and its whole expression was cruel
and sensual To degree, From the large
head rose u magnificent plume OF white
ostrich feathers tho body was clad in a shirt
of shining chain armor, whilst round the
waist and right knee was the usual garnish
of oN-tails. In the right hand was huge
spear. Round the neck was a thick torgue
of gold. and bound on to the forehead was 4
single and enormous uncut diamond.
Still there was silence; but not for long.
Presently the figure, whom we rightly
guessed to be the king raised the great
spear in his hand. Instantly eight thousand
spears Were raised in answer, and from eight
thousand threats rang out the royal salute OF
"koom." Three tues this was repeated, |
aud each time the earth shook with the noise |
that can only he compared to the deepest |
notes OF thunder.
BE humble, oh! people" plped out |
thin voice which seemed 10 come from the |
monkey in the shade, lit is the king
1T is the king" boomed out eight thou |
sand Threats in answer. BE humble, oh, |
people, II is the king"
Then ther> was silence again-aead |
silence. Presently, however, il was broken. |
A soldier on our left dropped his shield, |
which fell with clatter on the limestone |
floor. |
Twala turned his one cold eye in the |
direction of the noise.
Come hither, thou" ne said, in voice |
of thunder.
A fine ypunr man slammed nDt n Z tho ranks